A Keralite nun has spoken publicly about the trauma she says she endured following alleged sexual abuse by Bishop Franco Mulakkal, describing nearly eight years of intimidation, isolation, and institutional silence. Speaking to Asianet TV, Sister Ranit said her life continues to feel restricted, marked by social stigma and emotional confinement even years after the case came to light.
According to Sister Ranit, she was isolated within the Church after raising the allegations. She claimed that three nuns were forced to leave the congregation due to sustained harassment, including stone-pelting incidents. Those who remained now support themselves through tailoring work at the convent, she said, adding that silence from the diocese gradually pushed them to the margins.
She further alleged that attempts were made to falsely implicate her family members and fellow nuns, while some within the convent openly supported Bishop Mulakkal. Rejecting claims of financial motivation, Sister Ranit stated she had not received any monetary compensation from the bishop or the diocese.
Explaining her prolonged silence, Sister Ranit said fear played a decisive role. She noted that nuns are taught that moral purity is paramount, and once it is publicly questioned, expulsion from the congregation often follows. She added that women who leave convents under such circumstances are frequently branded as having “run away,” carrying lifelong stigma for themselves and their families.
Bishop Franco Mulakkal, former head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, was arrested in 2018 on charges of raping a nun. Although acquitted by a Kerala court in January 2022 due to lack of evidence, the controversy persisted. He resigned following Vatican intervention, with Pope Francis accepting his resignation in June 2023.
